Graduate Center Library Bloghttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu
Meditations from LibrariansTue, 26 Sep 2017 18:08:16 +0000en-CAChourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.254580875New Exhibit: Zines as Creative Resistancehttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/25/new-exhibit-zines-creative-resistance/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/25/new-exhibit-zines-creative-resistance/#respondTue, 26 Sep 2017 00:36:13 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?p=8631Walking through the first floor of the Graduate Center Library, you may have noticed a series of bright, colorful booklets within the display cases, bearing unusual titles like Gaylord Phoenix and Womanimalistic. Although differing in size, shape, and subject matter, these are all considered zines: […]

]]>Walking through the first floor of the Graduate Center Library, you may have noticed a series of bright, colorful booklets within the display cases, bearing unusual titles like Gaylord Phoenix and Womanimalistic. Although differing in size, shape, and subject matter, these are all considered zines: quirky, handmade publications with a low print run, no advertisements, and often a sole creator.

Zines as Creative Resistance explores the political side of zines, and their relationship to the following categories:

Feminism
Given the diversity of feminist voices, zines are a perfect match for expressive, sometimes hand-scrawled, manifestos, poems, and other outpourings on an incredibly wide range of topics. In the exhibit, we include zines about reclaiming the body (Adventures in Menstruating), asserting one’s claim on stereotypically feminine tasks (Radical Domesticity), and giving voice to the often-silenced experience of abortion (Shout Your Abortion).

Queer and Transgender Identity
From the psychedelic underworld of Edie Fake’s Gaylord Phoenix series, to the more straightforward memoir-style comics of Katie Omberg’s Gay Kid, zines offer a refreshingly open space to explore gender beyond boundaries, and far from an editor’s prying eye.

Race & Zinesters of Color
Zines have long played a role in the formation of social justice movements: the 1926 literary magazine Fire!! is often cited as an early proto-zine, given its shared lineage as an independently produced publication with a small print run, and an ephemeral quality (the first issue was also its last). Works like Letters from the war years share a similar purpose, bringing together “queer/trans POC” perspectives that collectively present a radical challenge to contemporary US nationalism and racism within the anti-war movement, offering ideas for resistance.

The Body
Encapsulated in the growing field of medical narrative, zines have been around for decades as an unmitigated space for expressing that which is beyond expression. Physical pain, states of psychological turbulence, roads towards sobriety: these are just some of the topics covered in various zines. Tributaries explores the specificity of living with the effects of childhood arthritis, in a series of personal reflections; while Jacoby Ballard offers a health-based perspective to gender transition with the support of herbal poultices and tinctures.

The panel will feature an exciting mix of zinesters, librarians, and zine librarians: Jenna Freedman (Barnard College Zine Library), Erica Cardwell (Zine Educator), Cristobal Guerra (La Chamba Press), and Kel Karpinski (Queer Sailors). Topics for discussion will include the dynamic role of zines in creating community, the ethics of zine librarianship, and the unexpected resurgence of this analog format in a predominantly digital era. This event is co-sponsored by the Women and Gender Studies Masters of Arts Program.

Zines are a unique medium, including all self-published creations appearing in the form of a printed booklet. This workshop is an Introduction to Zines, and also a discussion of their incredible potential for 1) research, 2) teaching, and 3), boundless creativity. We will look at questions such as: how do you cite a zine, and where do you find them? How can I teach with zines or use them for research? Can a zine be “scholarly”? And finally, we will learn a classic zine parlor trick, a.k.a. how to turn 1 piece of paper into a multi-page mini-zine.

]]>https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/25/new-exhibit-zines-creative-resistance/feed/08631Resource Highlight: Chicago Manual of Style Onlinehttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/13/resource-highlight-chicago-manual-of-style-online/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/13/resource-highlight-chicago-manual-of-style-online/#respondWed, 13 Sep 2017 05:00:00 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu?p=8614&preview=true&preview_id=8614In this post we feature The Chicago Manual of Style Online (CMOS), the handy e-version of the 16th and 17th editions of the esteemed style manual that was first published in 1906. The online edition of the CMOS will be familiar to anyone who has […]

In this post we feature The Chicago Manual of Style Online (CMOS), the handy e-version of the 16th and 17th editions of the esteemed style manual that was first published in 1906.

The online edition of the CMOS will be familiar to anyone who has used the resource in print. Part I – The Publishing Process covers the elements of books and journals, illustrations and tables, and rights, permissions, and copyright. The electronic workflow adopted by most publishers is addressed throughout. The section also covers manuscript preparation and editing, which will be especially helpful for thesis and dissertation authors.

Part II – Style and Usage is where you’ll find tips on grammar, punctuation, and abbreviations, as well as guidance on using languages other than English in your manuscript, rendering mathematical expressions in type, and formatting quotations and dialogue in your document.

Part III – Source Citations and Indexes covers everything you could ever need to know about citations and offers examples you can follow to properly format footnotes and bibliography entries for even the most arcane sources. A glossary, bibliography, and index round out the resource.

Here at the GC, we have set the 17th edition as the default but users may toggle between the 16th and 17th editions using the menu at the top of every screen. Navigating within the CMOS easy and intuitive. You can go directly to particular sections by clicking in the Table of Contents, find what you need by browsing the Index, or enter keywords in the search box just to the right of the ever-present menu.

Clicking on a TOC entry will display the full table of contents for the chapter. Selecting a numbered paragraph will bring you to the text. Section 5.37: Nominative case misused for objective, for example, offers a concise explanation, examples of correct and incorrect usage, and practical advice for avoiding the common grammatical error of misusing “I” in place of “me,” or vice-versa.

In addition to the CMOS, the resource also includes the Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide, which is convenient for easily finding examples for citing books, chapters, journal articles, websites, blog entries, text messages, and other sources using either the Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date system.

Grammar buffs may find another feature, the Chicago Style Q&A, entertaining reading. The most recent questions are featured and the full list is browsable by topic. Readers may submit pesky grammar questions of their own to the Q&A and sign up for alerts.

]]>https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/13/resource-highlight-chicago-manual-of-style-online/feed/08614You’re Always Just a Few Clicks Away from Requesting Interlibrary Loans!https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/06/youre-always-just-clicks-away-requesting-interlibrary-loans/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/06/youre-always-just-clicks-away-requesting-interlibrary-loans/#respondWed, 06 Sep 2017 18:04:43 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?p=8519Whenever you’re using a library database (such as OneSearch, Academic Search Complete, etc.) and the full text is not available, you can request it through our interlibrary loan services. With just a few clicks, the citation information will automatically populate! Or, if you already have citation […]

Examples of the “Find It! @ CUNY” button. If we don’t have the full text in another database, you’re just a few clicks away from completing an interlibrary loan request! (Click to enlarge.)

Whenever you’re using a library database (such as OneSearch, Academic Search Complete, etc.) and the full text is not available, you can request it through our interlibrary loan services. With just a few clicks, the citation information will automatically populate! Or, if you already have citation information, then you can fill in the details from our ILL request page. Articles are often delivered within hours (although they can take longer, as will book requests). And, there is no fee for ILL services!

Each databases will look slightly different, but in general, just:

Click on the “Find It! @ CUNY” or “Request through Interlibrary Loan” or “How to Get It” link (the wording differs across databases)

Log in to your ILL account (with the same credentials you use to log in to computers at the GC)

The details of the request will be automatically filled out in an ILL form

]]>https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/06/youre-always-just-clicks-away-requesting-interlibrary-loans/feed/08519Call for Participants: Fall 2017 Collaborative Research Seminar on Archives and Special Collectionshttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/06/fall-2017-collaborative-research-seminar/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/06/fall-2017-collaborative-research-seminar/#respondWed, 06 Sep 2017 16:05:25 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?p=8590The Graduate Center Library and the New York Public Library are proud to once again welcome applications for the second iteration of our Collaborative Research Seminar on Archives and Special Collections. Open to graduate-level students, faculty, and staff at CUNY by application by September 19, 2017. Through discussions, […]

Through discussions, presentations, and hands-on archival activities, this two-part seminar provides space for CUNY students, faculty, and staff to engage the praxis of incorporating archival and special collections research into their work. Together, we will develop research methods that unite the resources of both the Graduate Center Library and the archival and special collections holdings of the New York Public Library. To learn more about this experience and the scholarly work it generates, please visit The Center for the Humanities’ blog to read more from Collaborative Research Seminar participant Iris Cushing.

Friday, October 27th, 2017
5:45pm – 8:00pm
[hosted at The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building]

Together as archivists, librarians, curators, students, faculty, and staff of The Graduate Center and The New York Public Library, we will work to foster a community of primary-source research practice across our institutions. We will collectively consider how both sides of the reference desk can collaborate to promote preservation and access for the materials that hold our stories, histories, and traces.

Eligibility: Graduate students of all levels, faculty, and staff of CUNY are invited to apply. We encourage participation from a wide array of disciplines.

To Apply: To indicate your interest, please complete our brief Google Form. We request that you submit your form before 11:59pm on September 19th, 2017. We will be in touch by the end of September to confirm participation. The form is also available at the following URL: https://goo.gl/forms/APboRINWRvWLOvCY2

While your application is a vote for the necessity of this type of programming, we can only support limited participation capacity in the initial iterations of this seminar. To that end, we encourage a clear statement of interest and commitment to both sessions. We particularly encourage applicants from Spring 2017 to re-apply and to indicate this on their application.

]]>https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/09/06/fall-2017-collaborative-research-seminar/feed/08590Technical Difficulties: Slow Journal Searchhttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/30/journal-search-technical-issues/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/30/journal-search-technical-issues/#respondWed, 30 Aug 2017 18:45:07 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?p=8564The Journal Search tool on the GC Library website is experiencing temporary performance issues, which can lead to long wait times on your journal search results. If you are getting timed out or waiting too long, please try this alternative while we wait for our […]

The Journal Search tool on the GC Library website is experiencing temporary performance issues, which can lead to long wait times on your journal search results. If you are getting timed out or waiting too long, please try this alternative while we wait for our service provider to resolve the issue:

]]>https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/30/library-closed-94/feed/08560NYPL Mid-Manhattan Temporary Circulating Spacehttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/29/nypl-mid-manhattan-temporary-circulating-space/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/29/nypl-mid-manhattan-temporary-circulating-space/#respondTue, 29 Aug 2017 18:10:35 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?p=8552The New York Public Library issued an announcement today to patrons of its Mid-Manhattan Branch, which is undergoing a major renovation: While Mid-Manhattan Library is closed for a much-needed renovation, The New York Public Library is accommodating patrons by opening a temporary circulating space across […]

While Mid-Manhattan Library is closed for a much-needed renovation, The New York Public Library is accommodating patrons by opening a temporary circulating space across Fifth Avenue on the ground floor of its historic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

The new space—called Mid-Manhattan at 42nd Street—opens today, August 29, and is accessible to patrons via the 42nd Street entrance of the Schwarzman Building. The space holds Mid-Manhattan’s circulating collections and offers computers, programming spaces, and tables for quiet study. Mid-Manhattan holds are now available at this location for pick-up, patrons can return books here, and the space also serves as a cooling center.

Hours for the new space are:

Monday, Thursday: 8 AM–8 PM

Tuesday, Wednesday: 8 AM–9 PM

Friday: 8 AM–6 PM

Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM

Sunday: 10 AM–5 PM

The Space

To create Mid-Manhattan at 42nd Street, the Library transformed a formerly non-public space used for staff offices and storage into a welcoming, functional circulating library. The space is divided into four rooms with dedicated areas for programming, computers, browsable collections, seating, and a teen zone. In building the new space, the Library retained several historic elements, including built-in shelving and seating.

How To Access Materials

All of Mid-Manhattan’s circulating collections have moved to Mid-Manhattan at 42nd Street and will be available for checkout (with the exception of the Picture Collection, which has moved to Room 100 of the Schwarzman Building). Mid-Manhattan’s most current and frequently used books are available for browsing, while the rest of the collection is held in a non-public area but available for retrieval by staff. Materials can be requested in advance at nypl.org, or at various service points throughout the temporary space. After a short wait, large electronic boards throughout the space will alert patrons when their books have arrived. There will also be kiosks for virtual browsing and reading recommendations so that patrons can still independently explore the library’s collection. Staff are readily available to help patrons navigate the process and to answer questions.

The Renovation

Mid-Manhattan Library closed on August 1 for a long-awaited renovation. The New York Public Library’s central circulating library opened in the 1970s in a space designed to be a department store and is in serious need of upgrades and improvements. The renovated library will have a dramatic multistory wall of bookshelves; an employment skills center with job-search help; a full floor dedicated to a business library; a full floor dedicated to separate libraries for children and teens; a free public roof terrace; and hundreds more seats than the current branch.

The renovated branch is expected to open in early 2020.

While the building is temporarily closed, the Library has expanded hours and added services at several nearby Midtown locations, as well as added the temporary space. For more information on the project and the expanded hours at other branches, please visit nypl.org/midtown.

When it comes to funding, only about 30% indicated that they received sufficient financial support to maintain an acceptable standard of living (N=557). In addition, although the majority of students (88%, N=648) assisted with research and/or conducted their own research during their time at the GC, about 21% are not satisfied with the amount of research they have conducted.

The Early Research Initiative was launched in 2015 to respond to what the survey numbers had only confirmed, the pre-existing need for rigorous academic research and more student funding. Duncan Faherty, ERI’s inaugural director, works with the GC Library to ensure that those who receive grants administered through ERI also have the opportunity to present their work to the larger GC audience by hosting the Early Research and Scholarship Conference at the beginning of the semester.

This Friday, September 1st 9am – 2:40pm, recipients of several awards funded by the Provost’s Office ― the Knickerbocker Award for Archival Research in American Studies, the Award for Archival Research in African American and African Diaspora Studies, and the Provost’s Pre-Dissertation Summer Research Awards ― will present their material in its raw state. Panels will be moderated by world-renowned faculty from multiple departments. In years past, students described what it was like to enter an archive for the first time, led the audience on a photo-tour of their travels abroad, and asked for feedback on inquiries that were newly developed as a result of their funded research. In each presentation, audience members who are new graduate students have the opportunity to get a closer look at the expectations of those who receive these types of awards, and prepare their own applications moving forward.

Students will represent the following departments: Theatre, Urban Education, Art History, Anthropology, Psychology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, English, Music, Social Welfare, and others.

The schedule for the day is here. For detailed panel descriptions, see the full program.

]]>https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/28/early-research-initiative-conference-friday/feed/08534A peek into Primary Source: On Special Collections, Archives, and Librarieshttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/24/peek-primary-source-special-collections-archives-libraries/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/24/peek-primary-source-special-collections-archives-libraries/#commentsThu, 24 Aug 2017 16:00:15 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?p=8486The first weeks of fall often feel like a transitory time in which both the long days of summer and the bustle of the semester ahead call to us at once. This week, collaborators in the Primary Source Working Group are caught in both the past […]

The pages of the Bear consist solely of lines typed by hand. There are no graphics, columns, advertisements, or author photos. Di Prima typed the Bear’s contents—poems, essays, plays, critical texts and letters—herself on her IBM typewriter before making them into mimeograph sheets, which were then printed at the Phoenix Bookshop on Cornelia Street in the West Village. Baraka and Di Prima got help with proofreading from James Waring, and Freddie Herko helped out with managing the mailing list. They started out mailing the newsletter for free to about 150 poets, artists, playwrights and choreographers around the country; the list of recipients grew over the years to a few hundred. So, the ‘boundary stones’ include the canvas of the 8 ½ x 11” page, the typewriter, the mimeo, the mailing list. The field those stones describe is a magical field of inquiry, of affinity, of intellectual and spiritual freedom.

]]>https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/24/peek-primary-source-special-collections-archives-libraries/feed/18486Buy Books on Amazon, Support the GC Libraryhttps://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/23/buy-books-amazon-support-gc-library/
https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/08/23/buy-books-amazon-support-gc-library/#commentsWed, 23 Aug 2017 20:59:57 +0000https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?p=8483Will you buy books this term on Amazon.com? If you do, you can also support the Graduate Center Library by using a special link. For every purchase made using the GC Library’s Amazon link, you fund the Library for between 4% and 8.5% of the purchase price, with […]

]]>Will you buy books this term on Amazon.com? If you do, you can also support the Graduate Center Library by using a special link.

For every purchase made using the GC Library’s Amazon link, you fund the Library for between 4% and 8.5% of the purchase price, with no additional cost to you. Your Amazon purchase of HyperCities: Thick Mapping in the Digital Humanities, for example, will yield the Library 7% of the purchase price or about $1.25. That might not seem like much but it adds up! Last year the Library earned over $600 through the purchases you made with the Amazon Associates program.

You can always get to the GC Library’s Amazon Associates link using either the Amazon logo on the the Library’s website or the Support the Library link at the bottom of the Library’s website, which goes to the Donations and Gifts page.

You’ll see that gccunyvirtualboo appears at the end of the Library’s Amazon Associates web address. Use the link, and order following the steps you usually do. Bookmark this link for all your Amazon purchases, and you’ll support the library every time you buy from Amazon.